by William W. Abbott

An unheralded side effect of urbanization in California has been its effect on the dairy industry. Over the years, established dairies have been forced to relocate to new pastures in order to avoid the conflict between farm and urban uses. In flight from southern California’s Inland Empire and the pricey Bay Area, the new operations are settling into the Central Valley. As these operations relocate and expand in size, many face CEQA challenges. These challenges primarily focus on the side effects of air and water quality, along with odor and waste disposal. In Association of Irritated Residents v. County of Madera (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 1383, the Court of Appeal for the Fifth Appellate District recently affirmed the certification of an EIR for one of these new dairies.
Continue Reading Got EIR? EIR Upheld For Major Dairy Facility; Local Agency Not Required To Follow Informal State Species Study Requirements